Parachute-arrow.



110.888,663. PATBNTED MAY 26, 196s. o. R. STEWART.

PARAGHUTE ARROW. APPLIOATION FILED FEB. e, 190s.

C. R 6666022 r;

"It Nankls Farris ca., wAsHma'raN, n. c.

CLARENCE R. STEWART, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

PARACHUTE-ARROW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.k

Application filed. February 6, 1908. Serial No. 414,610.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CLARENCE R. STEWART, citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Parachute- Arrows, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in toys of the aerialprojectile type, and the object of the invention is an attractive device in the nature of a parachute which. is designed to be projected into the air as an arrow or dart and which is adapted to expand upon commencing its descent and to fall slowly. And a further object of the invention is a device of the character described which is arranged automatically upon its eX ansion to display an aeronaut, that has hit erto been hidden within the device, for the amusement of the spectators or for signalin purposes or the like.

With these and ot er objects in view that will more fully appear as the description. proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following descri tion and the accompanying drawings, in w ich:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation with parts broken away of my improved arachute arrow showing the cover in col apsed condition. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof showing the cover spread out and the pendant in suspended osltion. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of t e shaft showing the stop. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the late; and, Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 7,s lowing another form of aeronaut.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views o the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a preferably one-piece shaft and 2 desi nates a colla sible cover that is secured to t e upper en of the shaft and that is ada ted to be spread out like a parachute. A pliirality of cords 3 are secured at one end at any desired intervals to the edge of the cover and have their other ends fastened in any desired way to a ring 4 which encircles the shaft.- This ring is obviously drawn up- ,wardly on the shaft upon the spreading out of the cover and has its upward and downward movement limited by stops 5 which in the present instance are constituted by pins secured to the shaft, as shown. A connecting cord 6 is bifurcated at its upper end and its bifurcated ends are secured in any suitable way to 'the ring 4, preferably at diametrically opposite points thereof, the lower end of this cord being fastened to an intermediate point of a U-shaped keeper 7 which partially encircles the shaft 1 and which is pivotally connected thereto by means of pintles, passing through its ends. This keeper is obviously swung upwardly or is suspended in lowered position upon the upward or downward movement of the ring 4 and therefore upon the spreading out or collapsing of the cover.

The shaft 1 is provided near its lower end with a pocket 8 whichmay be formed by a longitudinal groove or depression and which is arranged to be closed by a plate 9 that partially encircles the shaft contiguous to the pocket. This plate is formed at one end with two ears 10 by which it is pivotally secured at diametrically opposite points to the shaft by means of a pin 11 passing therethrough. The other end of the plate is designed to be held in position against the shaft by the keeper 7 which when the cover is in a folded or collapsed position, is suspended in lowered ppsition and embraces the upper end of the p ate.

An aeronaut or pendant 12 which is formed of suitable pliable material and which in the present instance represents a human figure, is fitted in the pocket 8 and is detachably connected by a cord or the like to the plate 9 that is arranged to hold it against the shaft and hide it from view. It is to be understood that the aeronaut may represent any human or other figure, or embody any pictorial or advertising matter, vor if desired may comprise a flag or any other suitable object or merely a weight or pendant of any character, or a parachute and another aeronaut, or an independent parachute of smaller size as indicated at 12a in Fig. 5.

In the practical use of my improved device the pendant 12 is held against the shaft, in the pocket 8 by the plate 9 around which the keeper 7 is lowered and the device is then projected upwardly into the air by any suitwhile the device is moving upwardly but when the latter commences to fall, the cover is obviously spread out by the air and serves to sustain the device and permit it to descend slowly as a parachute. Upon the spreading out ofthe cover the retaining ring isA drawn upwardly against the stop 5 and the keeper is swung upwardly and thus releases the upper end of the plate and permits the latter to swing downwardly as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, such movement Aobviously withdrawing the pendant from the pocket and carrying it into a suspended position in which it is suddenly exposed to view to the delight and amusement of the spectators.

It will be noted that by the arrangement of the ears the adjacent end of the plate will clear the lower end of the shaft when the plate swings into lowered position.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. A device of the character described, comprising a shaft, a collapsible parachute cover secured to the shaft, a pendant, means for holding the pendant against the shaft, and a connection between the vparachute cover and saidholding means, whereby the expansion of the cover causes s aid holding means to release the pendant.

2. A device of the character described,

comprising a shaft, a collapsible parachute cover secured thereto, a pendant, means for suspending the pendant from the shaft, means for holding the pendant against the shaft with the suspension irreans in an inoperative position, and aconnection between the cover and said holding means, whereby the expansion of the cover causes the said holding means to release the pendant and permit the same to drop into suspended position.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a shaft formed with a pocket, a collapsible parachute cover secured to the shaft, a pendant, means for suspending the pendant from the shaft, means for holding the pendant in the pocket with the suspension means in an inoperative position, and a connection between the parachute cover and said holding means, as and for the purpose set forth. p

4. A device of the character described comprising a shaft formed with a groove, a collapsible parachute cover secured to the sh'aft, a plate partially encircling the shaft contiguous to the groove and pivotally secured to the shaft at one end, a pendant fitting in the groove and connected to the plate, means for holding the plate with its other end uppermost and means for releasing said end of the plate upon the spreading out of the cover.

5. A device of the character described comprising a shaft formed with a pocket, a

colla sible parachute cover secured near its middle point to the upper end of the shaft and adapted to be spread out7 cords secured at one end to the edge of the cover, a ring encircling the shaft and to which the other ends of the cords are secured, a plate partially encircling the shaft contiguous to the pocket and formed at one end with ears by which it is pivotally secured to the shaft, a pendant designed for position in the pocket and connected to the plate, means for limiting the upward'movement of the ring, and means actuated by the ring for engaging the other end of the plate and releasing the same.

6. A device of the character described comprising a shaft formed with a pocket, a collapsible parachute cover secured to the upper end of the shaft and adapted to be spread out, cords secured at one end to the edge of the cover, a ring encircling the shaft and to which the other ends of the cords are secured, a plate partially encircling the shaft contiguous to the pocket and pivotally secured at one end to the shaft, a pendant designed for position in the pocket and connected to the plate, means for limiting the movement of the ring, a cord fastened at one end to the ring and a keeper pivotally connected to the shaft and to which the other end of the cord is secured, said keeper en1 bracing the other end of the plate when the cover is collapsed and being arranged to be swung out of engagement with the plate upon the spreading out of the cover.

7. A device of the character described comprising a shaft, a collapsible parachute cover secured to the shaft, a plate partially encircling the shaft and pivotally secured at one end thereto,a pendant connected to the plate and arranged to be held thereby against the shaft, means for holding the plate with its other end uppermost, and means for releasing said end of the plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a shaft formed with a pocket, a collapsible parachute cover secured to the upper end of the shaft and adapted to be spread out, cords secured at one end of the cover, a ring encircling the shaft and to which the other ends of the cords are secured, a plate partially encircling the shaft', contiguous to the pocket and pivotally connected to the shaft at one end, a pendant designed for position in the pocket and connected to the plate, and means actuated by tllie ring for releasing the other end of the p ate. 1n testimony whereof 1 affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE E. STEWART. [L s] Witnesses:

GUY C. GILBERT, FRANK H. STEWART.. 

